Announcing the Workshop on Mobile and Web Technologies in Social & Economic Development, 2012

Releasing research reports: Mobile Data Collection Opportunities in sub Saharan Africa

Sep 17, 2012 at 2:50 pm • Aman Grewal • Leave a Comment

In July we announced a new research project, Mobile Data Collection Opportunities in Sub Saharan Africa . The Web Foundation has been involved in the mobile data collection space since 2010 when it engaged in conducting a study on the state of the art in multi-channel data collection. As an extension to our mobile data collection project, the foundation is carrying out this study to better understand the landscape of Mobile Data Collection activities and opportunities in Sub Saharan Africa.

Foroba Blon: On Air Now

Aug 28, 2012 at 11:02 am • Aman Grewal • 1 Comment

Citizen reporter in Tominian

Beginning in late July till the first week of August we were in Mali for deploying, testing and gathering feedback for the Foroba Blon project, where we deployed the first prototype of the radio platform. We tested the application with citizen journalists and rural radio stations and gathered feedback to continue developing and customizing the platform.

Announcing new research project: Mobile Data Collection Opportunities in sub Saharan Africa

Jul 11, 2012 at 10:38 am • Aman Grewal • 1 Comment

We are pleased to announce a new research project: Mobile Data Collection Opportunities in Sub Saharan Africa . The Web Foundation has been involved in the mobile data collection space since 2010 when it engaged in conducting a study on the state of the art in multi-channel data collection. As an extension to our mobile data collection project, the foundation is carrying out this study to better understand the landscape of Mobile Data Collection activities and opportunities in Sub Saharan Africa.

2012 IPI News Innovation Contest

May 3, 2012 at 4:29 am • Aman Grewal • Leave a Comment

The International Press Institute (IPI) has announced the winners of its 2012 News Innovation Contest. The projects will collectively enhance online journalism and innovation efforts via news platforms and training across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. This year’s projects focused on issues such as: the development of data-based investigative journalism; increasing community engagement with professional journalists; the enhancement of news gathering and delivery through new technological mechanisms; data visualisation, processing and analysis; and revenue models for online businesses.

VBAT Report

Apr 2, 2012 at 9:46 am • Aman Grewal • Leave a Comment

In February we shared with you key takeaways of the VBAT Project and the future roadmap. We also promised to share with you the public report that is now available.

As mentioned before, the VBAT demo interface is connected …

VBAT: Lessons and Future Steps

Feb 21, 2012 at 11:45 am • Aman Grewal • Leave a Comment

Today we are happy to share that VBAT project has met all its objectives and we are now moving ahead in our planning for the next steps. We announced the project in January 2011. The project was exciting for us because of a promising new concept: voice-based Web access. As part of the pilot project our aim was to test user acceptance of technology and trust in information received. It factored on how to enable people without prior exposure to technology and IVR in particular to interact with a computer through (mobile) phone and voice services, and trust the delivered information.

Workshop on Mobile and Web Technologies in Social & Economic Development, 2012

at 4:24 am • Aman Grewal • Leave a Comment

In November 2011 we had announced the workshop on Mobile and Web Technologies in Social and Economic Development, which will take place on February 27, 2012 in New Delhi.
The workshop aims to understand the challenges associated with using mobile phones and Web technologies to deliver sustainable services for underprivileged populations in developing countries. This workshop is jointly organized by the World Wide Web Foundation and the Society For Education and Research Development (India) in cooperation with HumanIT (Karlstad University, Sweden). With less than 7 days to go now we hope all the participants are equally excited to be part of this event alongside the 3rd International Conference on Mobile Communication for Development. As always we will keep you informed about the key outputs of the workshop by end of March.

New Project: Foroba Blon Voice-Based Citizen Journalism

Dec 8, 2011 at 8:20 am • Aman Grewal • Leave a Comment

Today, we are pleased to announce a new project. The Web Foundation, in partnership with VU University (Amsterdam) and Sahel Eco (Mali), is starting a new initiative on voice technology-based citizen journalism. We call it Foroba Blon. Together the two words signify a space where everyone has the right to speak and the truth can be told; but only if you do it respectfully. In early February 2011, the International Press Institute, a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists dedicated to the furtherance and safeguarding of press freedom, initiated a call for proposals under the IPI News Innovation Contest. The contest aimed at advancing the future of news by funding new ways to digitally inform communities in Europe, Middle East and Africa. The Web Foundation and its consortium partners were chosen as one of the three winners of the contest.

Announcing the Workshop on Mobile and Web Technologies in Social & Economic Development, 2012

Nov 30, 2011 at 3:28 am • Aman Grewal • Leave a Comment

We are pleased to announce the workshop on Mobile and Web Technologies in Social and Economic Development, which will take place on February 27, 2012 in New Delhi. The workshop aims to understand the challenges associated with using mobile phones and Web technologies to deliver sustainable services for underprivileged populations in developing countries.

This workshop is jointly organized by the World Wide Web Foundation and the Society For Education and Research Development (India) in cooperation with HumanIT (Karlstad University, Sweden)